Dandelions not dandy

Some homeowners declare all out war on dandelions this time of year, before fluffy flower heads turn into puffy balls of seeds that the slightest wind disperses a hundred-fold across their yard.

Another good reason for getting rid of these pesky plants early is that the longer you let them grow, the harder it is to remove them, with their long taproot intact, to prevent re-emergence.

I’ve noticed an impressive dandelion extraction unit on the market this spring and had the opportunity to quiz my neighbour about its effectiveness.

Eric Geis says he likes his new Fiskars tool but cautions that on well groomed lawns it will be necessary to fill in the hole created by the removal of the weed.

Four long, razor sharp stainless claws deeply penetrate the soil to grab the dandelion root and extract it with a core of soil. The plug can be beaten out and the dirt pushed back into the hole suggests Geis.

If you don’t want to invest in a specialized tool for the job, cutting the weeds with long handled shears is another method, though you’ll have to do this several times to kill the weed entirely.

Cut lower than the lawn mower would and make sure to cut all the leaves and as much of the stem as possible. Repeatedly cutting dandelion leaves prevents the plant from getting the nutrients it needs to survive. The root will stop sending up new growth and the plant will eventually be crowded out and die.

Another tool on the market to kill dandelions uses radiant heat. A propane torch would work similarly. A flame is held about six-inches above the weed for a few seconds to heat the dandelion’s sap so that it bursts cell walls. The plant wilts and dies within hours.

Vinegar kills dandelions too. Spray it directly onto the plant for about three seconds. Be forewarned however that vinegar also kills grass. Boiling water also has the same effect and cautionary advice.

When choosing a fertilizer for your lawn stay away from those that contain potassium. Long-term studies in the United Kingdom found that potassium fertilizers increased dandelion densities up to 20-fold.

Other measures to help prevent dandelions from growing back are mowing your lawn high (never take off more than a one third of the grass blade), mowing it once a week, and leaving grass cuttings on the grass to help prevent seeds from germinating.